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Leslie Young, winning trainer of Gustavian (No. 4): "Last year we opted to skip Saratoga. Not that he can't run over firm ground, but it gets a little firmer over the summer. We opted for the same plan [this year]. We freshened him up, happy and healthy coming into Belmont, a big, galloping track. He liked it last year, so we thought, 'Why not for a big Grade 1 like this?'"

"I think we benefitted a little when [runner-up No. 6 All Together] stumbled on landing [following the final jump]. Gustavian likes a fight at the finish, he likes to aim at something. He dueled throughout the stretch, and thank God his nose was longer [than All Together's]."

"If he stays happy and healthy, our next race will be Far Hills [Grade 1 Grand National, October 19]."

Paddy Young, winning jockey aboard Gustavian (No. 4): "I've ridden him most of his career. He doesn't win many races - he likes running second a lot. He loves this big, galloping track. He's a great jumper. The thing I liked about him today is that he actually chased that horse when it passed him, which sometimes he doesn't do. He stuck his head out at the right time today."

"We train him ourselves. This is the biggest win my wife and I have had together. The next biggest would probably have been the Entennmann, the novice race, here last year with him. So, he loves this course."

Xavier Aizpuru, jockey aboard runner-up All Together (No. 6): "If it wasn't for the last jump, I think we would have won. He actually was very brave after the last fence, to keep battling away after losing so much momentum. You can't help but feel like a mistake like that costs you when you get beaten by a head bob."